Anne and the fake Brad Pitt: these factors which predispose to romantic scams

Anne and the fake Brad Pitt: when the Internet goes crazy

No one has been able to miss the story of Anne and fake Brad Pitt since the broadcast of the “Sept à Huit” report on Tf1 this Sunday, January 12. The Internet only talks about her: the Frenchwoman Anne, a 53-year-old interior decorator who thought she was having a romantic affair with the American actor, was in fact manipulated by a crook who took the sum of 830,000 euros from her on a period of one and a half years. Social networks were ablaze with parodies, montages and mocking comments. The least we can say is that Internet users had a blast. This story, which tragically illustrates the dangers of online romantic scams, even reached the ears of Brad Pitt's representatives. For her part, Anne, this divorced mother now under fire from criticism, said she was very upset against the production of “Sept à Huit”, which she accused of having manipulated the images of her testimony.

We asked our expert Christian Richomme, psychoanalyst and therapist specializing in anxiety disorders, depression, addictions, author of four books (“Le Journal Intime de ma Thérapie”, “Psychologie de la Rencontre Amoureuse”, “Psychologie of the narcissistic pervert” and “Fears in romantic relationships” – Éditions du Net), which gave us clues to understand the functioning of these sentimental scams, the psychological profile of the people targeted for precisely better protect yourself from it.

The psychological profile of the victim and mechanisms of the scam

“Scammers often exploit emotional vulnerabilities in their victims. Anne, despite a successful professional life, may have felt emotional loneliness or a quest for recognition, making her more receptive to the flattering advances of an alleged Brad Pitt. Scammers create fake profiles on social networks and online dating sites, feigning true love to gain the trust of their victims The success of these scams relies on the scammer's ability to manipulate emotions and to manipulate. establish a false sense of intimacy. They create a persona that fulfills the victim's desire to be loved, sharing similar life experiences and common vulnerabilities. This emotional bond intensifies, preventing the victim from understanding that. this is a deception.

Naivety and hope: drivers of manipulation

Naivety, often seen as blind trust, combined with a deep hope for an exceptional love story, can lead individuals to ignore obvious warning signs. In Anne's case, the idea of ​​a global celebrity being interested in her likely fueled a sense of self-worth, obscuring rationality. People with high romantic beliefs, a tendency to idealize their partner and their relationship, are more likely to be victims of this fraud.

Factors predisposing to romantic scams

Certain characteristics make individuals more vulnerable to romance scams:

• Social isolation: People in need of affection, often isolated and lonely, are more likely to go online in search of relationships, making them vulnerable to scams.

• Impulsivity and gullibility: People who are more impulsive, educated, and more trusting of others are more likely to be victims of online romance fraud.

• The idealization of relationships: Individuals with high romantic beliefs, a tendency to idealize their partner and their relationship, are more inclined to fall into the trap of romantic scams.

Anne's affair reminds us of the importance of remaining on guard against the illusions that online interactions can create. Naivety and hope, although inherent in human nature, can sometimes blind us and lead us down perilous paths. Raising awareness about romantic scams and understanding their mechanisms is essential to protect yourself from them. And let's remember: if a so-called Prince Charming appears out of nowhere, before putting on your Cinderella pumps, make sure it's not an imposter with a plastic crown. After all, in real life, fairy tales often require a little more common sense and caution.”